Box for photographic materials



July 10, 1962 FIG.[

FIG.2

I. H. FOWLE BOX FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS July 10, 1962 Filed Oct. 29,1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 2 I I I l/ I X/ 8 4 22b/: N /22Q lzb/ |/l '20,

INVENTOR. IRVING H. FOWLE BY m. M

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T TORNEY United States Patent poration of Delaware Filed Get. 29, 1959,Ser. No. 849,501 2 (Iiaims. (Cl. 229-6) This invention relates toimprovements in boxes or containers and in particular to boxes of thetype employed to package sensitive photographic elements such as lightsensitive films and plates.

The construction of boxes or containers suitable for packaging lightsensitive photographic materials presents certain unique and specificproblems. For instance, it is, of course, absolutely necessary that suchcontainers be completely light proof since, otherwise, sensitive plateswould become fogged. However, such containers must also be easily openedin the darkroom. This means that the construction of the box must besuch that it is readily opened and the contents readily removed usingonly the sense of touch. Furthermore, it is highly desirable that anyunused film can be replaced in the box without any intricate or involvedsealing procedure toexclude light along creases or folds.

Although boxes of various types and construction are known which arefairly practicable, it is believed that the present constructionprovides a box having all the novel features and requirements for theabove stated uses.

It is, therefore, the purpose and object of this invention to provide abox for sensitive photographic materials embodying the aforementioneddesirable features.

A further object is to provide a box for sensitive photographicmaterials which is composed of a few simple parts which is easy toassemble.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting apart of this application and in which like numerals designate like partsthroughout the same and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe box in the fully open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inner telescoping lid and bodymember in an open position with the cover in a substantially uprightposition relative to the body member;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folding box showing the innertelescoping lid in a partially open position and the cover in a positionsubstantially perpendicular to the body member;

FIG. 4 shows the inner telescoping lid closed over the body member andthe cover in a partially open position; and

FIG. 5 is a side view in section of the closed box.

Referring now to the drawing, designates the tray which comprises a base11 and three upright rigid side walls 12, 12a and 1217, respectively.The tray 10 is adapted to receive or hold the contents of the box. Thefourth side wall 14 of the tray 10 is foldable along the score lines .16and 18 respectively and is integral with the base 20 and the side walls22, 22a and 22b of the inner telescoping lid 24. Reference numeral 24designates the inner telescoping lid which has the same construction asthe tray in that it has a base 20 and the rigid side walls 22, 22a and22b. The fourth foldable side wall 14 of the tray 10 is common to thetray and telescoping lid being joined to the tray along score line 16and to the lid along score line 18. The side walls 12a and 12b of thetray are separated from the side walls 22a and 22b of the lid by cut outportions 33a and 33b having a width "ice equal to the Width of thecommon foldaole side wall 14. Said cut out portions, as is evident,permit folding of the lid into the tray. The cover 26 comprises a base28 and rigid depending side walls 30, 30a, 30b and 3%. A hinged joint 32connects the upper edge of side 39 of the cover 26 to the lower edge ofside 12 of the inner telescoping lid 24. The construction of the hingejoint 32 comprises a flexible strip such as paper or cloth or similarmaterial securely bonded to the outer surface of side 12 and the lowersurface of base 11.

The operation of the box is as follows:

Any sensitive material, susceptible to fogging in the manner describedabove, is placed in the tray 10 and the inner telescoping lid 24 isclosed over the side walls 12, 12a and 12b of the tray 10 as indicatedin FIG. 4-. The cover 26 is then folded to closed position by pivotingalong the hinged joint 32.

When it is desired to remove the contents from the box, the aforesaidoperation describing the closing of the box is carried out in reverseorder.

The score lines 16 and 18, the purpose of which is to facilitate theclosing and opening of the box are preferably formed by shallowlyincising the box material with a sharp cutting edge.

A highly important and valuable feature of the box is the fact that thecover can be completely opened while leaving the inner lid 14 tightlyclosed thus preventing exposure of the contents of the tray if the coveris inadvertently opened in the light.

The box is readily constructed of economic material and is furthermoresimple to use. When the box is fully opened and placed on a levelsurface, the tray 1t) is inclined from the cover 26 toward the inner lid24 as shown in FIG. 1. This feature is especially valuable in a darkroomsince the inclined body tray is instantly identified by touch so thatthe sensitive photographic elements can easily be removed or replaced intotal darkness. This inclination, under darkroom conditions, of the tray10 enables a darkroom operator to distinguish, by the sense of touch,the inner lid 24 from the cover 26. Consequently, the lid is notmistaken for the cover when closing up the box.

I claim:

1. A rectangular box of light-tight construction for the packaging andhandling of light-sensitive photographic sheet material comprising atray having a base and rigid side walls extending perpendicularlytherefrom on three sides, a lid including a base and rigid side wallsextending therefrom perpendicularly on three sides, a side wall commonto both said tray and said lid, said wall being formed integral withsaid base and scored whereby said lid may be closed to telescopicallyfit inside said tray and a cover including a base and side walls adaptedto fit over said tray and closed lid, said cover being hingedlysupported at the bottom edge of said tray, whereby upon placement ofsaid box on a level surface with the cover fully opened, said trayassumes an inclined position for easy access to said light-sensitivematerial.

2. A box as defined in claim 1 wherein said hinged support comprises aflexible adhesive strip attached to one side wall of said tray and toone side wall of said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS913,054 Robbins Feb. 23, 1909 1,851,518 McGovern Mar. 29, 1932 FOREIGNPATENTS 717,950 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1954

